The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-06-22
The Use of Adjectiyes.


Well, here l am at last. I've been
an awful time coming, though. Every
time | was Just ready to get started
there was something else to do, and
after l was half way down the street
Gertie wanted to know where her slate
was. Children are a horrid nuisance
sometimes and Bella. Townsend
famed herself theoretically with her
broad straw hat as she rested after her
long walk.
g You look most tired to death ;"
said Fannie, sympathetically as she
looked at her friends heated face
Isn't it elegant out this morning,
though? We've had such windy weather
it's just splendid to have a day like this. :"
g Indeed it is" agreed Bella. l was
awfully hot before | started, or |
wouldn't have minded the sun so much.
/ was baking a cake, and the kitchen
was so hot | was most melted before
got out of it,"
Did your cake turn out all right?"
asked Fannie.
Oh, yes; it's just lovely. l made a
layer cake and put cocoanut over it,
and it's awfully stylish-looking."
hope Eta Grants won't take the shine
off it tonight at the sociable."
Il don't believe it will" returned
Fannie, consolingly " Did you notice
what a sweet bonnet she had on yester-
day? 1t was too cute for anything in
front. l suppose her aunt brought ii
to her, for | know she didn't get ii
made here"
Her wrap was justmagnifcent, too y
returned Bella. Z" It's so plain, too. |
know the material couldn't have cost
much, and the trimmings are cheap,
but l suppose it's because it fits her
that it looks so we'll"
She's awfully homely when she
yesterday" said Fannie. " Her mother
is horrid-looking. She never has bit
of style, so it's no wonder Eta hasn't
got much. She's trying to make up to
the new minister, believe"
:" It's no use for her to try" said
Bella, scornfully; she wouldn't look
at her. Isn't he lovely, thought"
He is so, and he breaches awfully
pretty sermons. Did you see the sun.
set last night?"
"No, l didn't notice it. What about
ito"
"Oh, it was just lovely; all bright
and red. May Harmon said it re.
minded her of Switzerland"
:" didn't know she was back al
ready. Did she have a nice time?"
" Just elegant, she says. The
scenery was awfully lovely, and sht
] oil hn ~
gone"
" 1t will be horribly dull to settle
down at home again after all he
travels
g Yes, it will be just terrible for her
You just ought to see the dresse:
she's brought home. They're splen
did, and then she has lovely bonnets t,
90 with each of them"
sit must be elegant to have so mucl
money. l wish had some of it,"
" But you wouldn't want your grand
father to die to get it?"
No. of course not. BY the way
didn't the minister make real cut,
address at little Lottie Miller's fupera
the other day?"
Why, Bella Townsend | neve
heard such an awful thing in all m,
lifel TO think of calling a funeral ad
dress cute!"
Oh, well, l didn't mean just that
You know what | meant. 1t wa
pretty and so appropriate; didn't meal
to call it cute, but you know that's m,
great word"
. 1t did sound too funny for anything
though. Have some caramels? They'r,
lovely and fresh. Sometimes Dana ha
awfully stale ones"
III take some to eat on the way
for | must be going now. I've got
fearful walk before me-up to the store
and then all the way back home. II
be most dead by the time l get there
Good-by."
GOod-by."
An overdrawn conversation, do yol
say? Not at all. 1t is a real converse
ton between Two young girls who hell
enviable places in the graduating elias
of seminary, and who are perfectl
conversant with the meaning an
proper application of all the adjective
they use, or misuse, so freely. O
course they know better, but their habi
of misapplying the adjectives they us
comes from carelessness.
1t is a common fault, even with well
educated people, to fall into the way O
using words in ordinary conversatio
that are not at all applicable in tn
sense in which they use them. Their
is no habit more easily formed, or NOR
difficult to break, as you will soon dis
cover if you ever undertake the latte
task
"The word awful" for example
signifies awe-inspiring, or full of awe
yet we often hear conversation freel
interlarded with it, when its use is, t
say the least, senseless. Awful
lovely" lawfully hot" "awfull
tired" are frequent expressions, an
! are unconsciously used oftentimes.
Girls, if you would speak pure Ell